EDITORIAL: Anyone who provides alcohol to minors should be prosecuted

Friday, April 25, 2014

It’s still amazing to those of us who are indeed responsible adults to imagine that there is anyone out there with children who not only endorses underage drinking but actually supplies teens with booze.

Aside from the fact that it’s probably the most irresponsible thing you could do as a parent, it’s also very, very illegal. Police and judges do not look too kindly at parents who try to be the “cool parents” by supplying alcohol to those under the age of 21.

In Whitemarsh Township, one man is in hot water with the law for allegedly furnishing alcohol to minors for a “Sweet 16” party held at his house.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Whitemarsh Township Police Chief T. Michael Beaty announced that a summons has been issued for Arthur Blumenthal for furnishing alcohol to minors during the party at his residence.

On March 21, 2014, Whitemarsh police responded to the man’s house for a report of an intoxicated subject. The officers then found a male in his teens lying in the grass next to the residence. The teen was vomiting on himself and officers immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. Due to his condition, he was taken to a local hospital for treatment for an alcohol overdose.

When the police entered the home they were immediately greeted with a strong odor of alcohol emanating throughout the house. In the basement, officers discovered a large “Sweet 16” party.

Police said that all of the individuals present were under the age of 21; it was determined that there were more than 60 minors and a large number of empty and full beer cans in the basement. There were also numerous cases of beer in an attached garage. Officers identified, tested for alcohol, and released all of the occupants to their parents or guardians. As a result of the testing, the police issued numerous citations for underage drinking.

The question that comes to mind is this: Was this man out of his mind? Who would have 60 underage teens allegedly drinking at your house? Was there absolutely no common sense in the air? The legal ramifications of being cited for providing the booze, let alone the potential fallout should one of those teens had driven a vehicle and had an accident, are beyond belief.

Having a small glass of wine at a traditional family dinner at a holiday function is one thing; allowing five dozen teens to allegedly consume alcohol at your house is quite another. We hope that the legal system treats the accused here with a strong message; heavy-duty fines, community service, talking to teens about the perils of underage drinking and, oh yes, talking to other parents about the stupidity of such a move.